Universal product attribute modeler

Abstract

The method and system for universal product attribute modeler for facilitating product matching among different parties such as buyers and suppliers is provided. Each party's attribute-based product description and unique identification code are loaded into a model. Any one party may request a product from any other party, using its own unique identification code regardless of what the other parties use for identifying the same or similar product. When a party requests a product using its own unique identification code, the universal product attribute modeler converts the unique identification code into generic attribute description, searches the model for matching product from the other parties, and when found communicates the request to those parties found in the search. The request is communicated using the other parties' unique identification codes that may be different from the requesting party's identification code.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for facilitating buying and selling of products wherein buyers and suppliers use different identifiers for similar products, comprising: 
 receiving a first identifier for a product and first one or more attributes describing the product from a first party;    storing the first identifier, the first one or more attributes, a first party identifier associating the first party in a data model;    receiving a second identifier for a product from a second party;    determining one or more attributes associated with the second identifier;    storing the second identifier, the second one or more attributes, a second party identifier associating the second party in the data model;    receiving a request for a product;    determining one or more attributes associated with the requested product;    searching the data model for one or more matching products having the one or more attributes associated with the requested product; and    if found, providing one or more parties' identifications associated with the one or more matching products.    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the one or more matching product.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the product is forest product.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the product includes one or more products that can be described by attributes.  
     
     
         5 . A method of providing universal product attribute modeler, comprising: 
 receiving a plurality of supplier product identifiers and associated supplier product attributes from a plurality of product suppliers;    automatically loading into a data model, the plurality of supplier product identifiers, the plurality of product suppliers, and the associated supplier product attributes;    receiving a plurality of buyer product identifiers and associated buyer product attributes from a plurality of product buyers;    automatically loading into a data model, the plurality of buyer product identifiers, the plurality of product buyers, and the associated buyer product attributes;    receiving a request for a product identified by buyer's product identifier;    determining one or more product attributes associated with the buyer's product identifier; and    searching the data model for a product having the one or more product attributes associated with the buyer's product identifier,    wherein a buyer is automatically provided with one or more products and one or more suppliers according to buyer's product attribute requirement, regardless of one or more product identifiers used by supplier and buyer.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the product is forest product.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the product includes one or more products that can be described by attributes.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further including: 
 providing predetermined spreadsheet to a supplier for entering supplier's product attribute data; and    the automatically loading includes automatically loading the supplier's product attribute data from the predetermined spreadsheet.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , further including: 
 providing predetermined spreadsheet to a buyer for entering buyer's product attribute data; and    the automatically loading includes automatically loading the buyer's product attribute data from the predetermined spreadsheet.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further including: 
 receiving an offer for product identified by a supplier's product identifier;    determining one or more product attributes associated with the supplier's product identifier; and    searching the data model for a buyer requesting a product having the one or more product attributes associated with the seller's product identifier,    wherein the supplier is automatically provided with one or more buyers requesting a product having the one or more product attributes associated with the supplier's product identifier.    
     
     
         11 . A method for coordinating communication between one or more parties wherein the one or more parties use different identifiers for referring to similar products, comprising: 
 receiving a first identifier for a product and first one or more attributes describing the product from a first party;    converting based on the first one or more attributes the first identifier to a first standard identifier identifying the first identifier;    storing the first identifier, the first standard identifier, and the first one or more attributes in a data model;    receiving a second identifier for a product and second one or more attributes describing the product from a second party;    converting based on the second one or more attributes the second identifier to a second standard identifier identifying the second identifier;    storing the second identifier, the second standard identifier, and the second one or more attributes in the data model.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first standard identifier and the second standard identifier are the same based on what the user defines as same.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further including: 
 receiving a request for a product identified by an identifier;    translating the identifier into a standard identifier;    searching the data model for the standard identifier; and    providing a party identifier associated with the standard identifier.    
     
     
         14 . A system for coordinating communication between one or more parties wherein the one or more parties use different identifiers for referring to similar products, comprising: 
 a data entry module for capturing product and attribute information;    a data load module for uploading the product and attribute information; and    a universal product attribute modeler for storing the product and attribute information, the universal product attribute modeler including a search engine enabled to search data stored in the universal product attribute modeler according to one or more product attributes.    
     
     
         15 . A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps of coordinating communication between one or more parties wherein the one or more parties use different identifiers for referring to similar products, comprising: 
 receiving a first identifier for a product and first one or more attributes describing the product from a first party;    converting based on the first one or more attributes the first identifier to a first standard identifier identifying the first identifier;    storing the first identifier, the first standard identifier, and the first one or more attributes in a data model;    receiving a second identifier for a product and second one or more attributes describing the product from a second party;    converting based on the second one or more attributes the second identifier to a second standard identifier identifying the second identifier;    storing the second identifier, the second standard identifier, and the second one or more attributes in the data model.